Fancy footwork means girls are on the ball

And five dancers from McKechnie School of Dance in Grangemouth have been picked to be part of Team Scotland at this summer’s Dance World Cup in Jersey.

Twins Carmen and Ava Judge (9) and 12-year-olds Matilda Jackson, Millie Gray and Millie Wright will perform individually and in duets and trios at the championships.

And who better to guide them in representing their country than former Scottish international footballer Darren Jackson.

Darren, who is Matilda’s dad said: “This is five kids from a small dance school representing Scotland so it shows you what a good job the school’s doing. They are so young I don’t think they know how proud they should be of themselves.

“I’ve got connections with the Scotland squad, and I’m hoping that Gordon Strachan and the team will have their picture taken with them at Hampden soon. We should support all our sports representing Scotland.”

The Dance World Cup will take place between June 24 and July 3 when 18,000 dancers from 38 countries will compete.

Teacher Nadine McKenzie Judge said: “I’m so proud of our girls. They work incredibly hard.”